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Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits are widely consumed fresh and in the forms of juice, concentrate, wine and jam. Pomegranate fruit husk is a rich source of hydrolyzable tannins called ellagitannins (ETs). During processing methods in the commercial pomegranate juice (PJ) industry, ETs are extracted from the fruit husk in significant quantities into the juice. Pomegranate husk, a by-product of the PJindustry, is therefore an inexpensive and abundant source of ETs which are present in PJ. Previous methods to isolate pomegranate ETs included labor intensive and time-consuming solid phase extractions by column chromatography (C-18, polyamides, cellulose, Sephadex Lipophilic LH-20, Diaion HP20) and/or use of specialized instruments such as preparative-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We have used an Amberlite XAD-16 resin vacuum-aspirated column to rapidly purify an aqueous extract of pomegranate husk to afford total pomegranate tannins (TPT) in substantial yields (58-60 g TPT/Kg husk; time

Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) are an excellent dietary source of phytochemicals that include flavonol glycosides, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins), and organic and phenolic acids. Using C-18 and Sephadex Lipophilic LH-20 column chromatography, HPLC and tandem LC-ES/MS, we have analyzed, quantified and separated total cranberry extract (TCE) into fractions enriched in sugars, organic acids, total polyphenols, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins (39.4, 30.0, 10.6, 5.5, 1.2% composition, respectively). Using a luminescent ATP cell viability assay, the antiproliferative effects of TCE (200 g/mL) vs. all fractions were evaluated against human oral (KB, CAL27), colon (HT-29, HCT116, SW480, SW620) and prostate (RWPE-1, RWPE-2, 22Rv1) cancer cell lines. The total polyphenol fraction was the most active fraction against all cell lines with 96.1 and 95% inhibition of KB and CAL27 oral cancer cells, respectively. For the colon cancer cells, the antiproliferative activity of this fraction was greatest against HCT116 (92.1%) than HT-29 (61.1%), SW480 (60%) and SW620 (63%). TCE and all fractions, showed 50% antiproliferative activity against prostate cancer cells with total polyphenols being the most active fraction (RWPE-1, 95%; RWPE-2, 95%; 22Rv1, 99.6%). Cranberry sugars (78.8 g/mL) did not inhibit the proliferation of any cancer cell lines. The enhanced antiproliferative activity of total polyphenols compared to TCE and its individual phytochemicals suggests synergistic or additive antiproliferative interactions of the anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and flavonol glycosides within the cranberry extract.

Products containing ephedra or ephedrine may cause weight loss in the short term but there is no long-term evidence that the weight loss can be maintained for long periods of time. There is also little evidence that these products can improve athletic performance. However, they can have severe side effects on the heart, gastrointestinal tract, brain, and nervous system.

In times of health crisis, including the current COVID‐19 pandemic, the potential benefit of botanical drugs and supplements emerges as a focus of attention, although controversial efficacy claims are rightly a concern. Phytotherapy has an established role in everyday self‐care and health care, but, since botanical preparations contain many chemical constituents rather than single compounds, challenges arise in demonstrating efficacy and safety. However, there is ample traditional, empirical, and clinical evidence that botanicals can offer some protection and alleviation of disease symptoms as well as promoting general well‐being. Newly emerging viral infections, specifically COVID‐19, represent a unique challenge in their novelty and absence of established antiviral treatment or immunization. We discuss here the roles and limitations of phytotherapy in helping to prevent and address viral infections, especially regarding their effects on immune response. Botanicals with a documented immunomodulatory, immunostimulatory, and antiinflammatory effects include adaptogens, Boswellia spp., Curcuma longa, Echinacea spp., Glycyrrhiza spp., medicinal fungi, Pelargonium sidoides, salicylate‐yielding herbs, and Sambucus spp. We further provide a clinical perspective on applications and safety of these herbs in prevention, onset, progression, and convalescence from respiratory viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military personnel use dietary supplements (DS) for performance enhancement, bodybuilding, weight loss, and to maintain health. Adverse events, including cardiovascular (CV) effects, have been reported in military personnel taking supplements. Previous research determined that ingestion of multi-ingredient dietary supplements (MIDS), can lead to signals of safety concerns. Therefore, to assess the safety of MIDS, the Department of Defense via a contractor explored the development of a model-based risk assessment tool. We present a strategy and preliminary novel multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)-based tool for assessing the risk of adverse CV effects from MIDS. The tool integrates toxicology and other relevant data available on MIDS; likelihood of exposure, and biologic plausibility that could contribute to specific aspects of risk. Inputs for the model are values of four measures assigned based on the available evidence supplemented with the opinion of experts in toxicology, modeling, risk assessment etc. Measures were weighted based on the experts' assessment of measures' relative importance. Finally, all data for the four measures were integrated to provide a risk potential of 0 (low risk) to 100 (high risk) that defines the relative risk of a MIDS to cause adverse reactions. We conclude that the best available evidence must be supplemented with the opinion of experts in medicine, toxicology and pharmacology. Model-based approaches are useful to inform risk assessment in the absence of data. This MCDA model provides a foundation for refinement and validation of accuracy of the model predictions as new evidence becomes available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB; Chinese skullcap or Huang Qin) has a history of traditional use as an anti-inflammatory agent, suggesting inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism, which could also reduce colon carcinogenesis. Therefore we chose to study the effect of an extract of SB on 4 different human colon cancer cell lines that differ in phenotype: HCT116 [cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) negative], HT29 (COX-2 positive, 5-lipoxygenase positive), and SW480 and SW620 (2 lines from same patient, primary vs. metastasis; COX-2 negative). Ethanol (75%) extracts of SB (Botanica Biosciences) were assayed by HPLC for levels of a number of flavonoids. The principle component was found to be baicalin, at 224 mg/g SB. Concentrations of baicalein and skullcap flavone were some 10-fold less. However, a host of other flavonoids, including neobaicalein, wogonin, and rutin were also present in small quantities. Colon cancer cell lines (initial 3000-5000 cells) were treated with increasing concentrations (0-200/[micro]mol/L) of SB extract or selected flavonoids (baicalin, baicalein, wongonin) as well as pharmaceuticals sulindac sulfide and indomethacin for 48 h. Levels of SB were matched to baicalin content. Cell viability was assayed using an ATP-based cell proliferation assay (CellTiter-Glo; Promega). The SB whole extract was generally a more potent inhibitor of proliferation ([IC.sub.50] = 24-60 [micro]mol/L) than baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin individually. Indomethacin ([IC.sub.50] > 188 [micro]mol/L) and sulindac sulfide ([IC.sub.50] > 119 [micro]mol/L) were only mildly inhibitory in these lines. These results indicate that SB extract is a potent inhibitor of cellular proliferation in both COX-2-negative and -positive cell lines. The glucuronide baicalin and its aglycone baicalein accounted for a majority of this effect, but the other flavonoids may provide additional benefits. [Supported by NIH AT1535, CA4271.]